C++ Crash Course

by Josh Lospinoso

A fast-paced, thorough introduction to modern C++ written for experienced programmers. After reading C++ Crash Course, you'll be proficient in the core language concepts, the C++ Standard Library, and the Boost Libraries.

C++ is one of the most widely used languages for real-world software. In the hands of a knowledgeable programmer, C++ can produce small, efficient, and readable code that any programmer would be proud of.

Designed for intermediate to advanced programmers, C++ Crash Course cuts through the weeds to get you straight to the core of C++17, the most modern revision of the ISO standard. Part 1 covers the core of the C++ language, where you'll learn about everything from types and functions, to the object life cycle and expressions. Part 2 introduces you to the C++ Standard Library and Boost Libraries, where you'll learn about all of the high-quality, fully-featured facilities available to you. You'll cover special utility classes, data structures, and algorithms, and learn how to manipulate file systems and build high-performance programs that communicate over networks.

You'll learn all the major features of modern C++,
* Fundamental types, reference types, and user-defined types
* The object lifecycle including storage duration, memory management, exceptions, call stacks, and the RAII paradigm
* Compile-time polymorphism with templates and run-time polymorphism with virtual classes
* Advanced expressions, statements, and functions
* Smart pointers, data structures, dates and times, numerics, and probability/statistics facilities
* Containers, iterators, strings, and algorithms
* Streams and files, concurrency, networking, and application development

With well over 500 code samples and nearly 100 exercises, C++ Crash Course is sure to help you build a strong C++ foundation.

Genres: Programming, Computer Science, Technology, Technical, Computers, Coding, Software

790 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2019

About the author

Joshua Lospinoso, PhD is an entrepreneur who served 15 years in the US Army. As a cyber officer, Lospinoso wrote dozens of infosec tools and built and taught the C++ course that United States Cyber Command uses to teach its junior developers. He has spoken at a wide range of conferences, published over twenty peer-reviewed articles, and co-founded a successfully acquired security company. He keeps a blog and is an active contributor to open-source software. Lospinoso holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of Oxford and is a Rhodes Scholar.

Reviews

[Nat Tabris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book to someone who (like me) knows how to program but doesn't have experience with modern C++. The book is clear, easy to read, and does a great job conveying some of the nuances (and gotchas) of modern C++ without getting too deep in the weeds. I still have about 200 pages left to read but I now feel ready to dig into C++ and more specialized or advanced texts.

[Patrick DiJusto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was the final developmental editor on this book, so of course I'm biased on the book's behalf. Nevertheless, I honestly think this book may become THE reference work on C++ I first learned C++ in 1992, and the language has changed so much since then that reading this book was almost like learning the language afresh. And Josh Lospinoso was there to help every step of the way.

Its an intense book (as you might have guessed from the term "crash course"); there's not a lot of hand-holding. But if you follow the exercises and stick to it, you'll come out of this book a C++ master.

Oh and -- try to count the little hidden science fiction references Josh threw into the text in the form of variable and function names. Just try to keep count of them.

[Pedro Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to C++

I program primarily in Python and was looking for an introduction to modern C++. This book was very helpful, covers a lot of topics with just the right amount big detail. The source code examples are very well thought out.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lospinoso takes a no-nonsense, hands-on approach to teach you C++. The book is designed to get you up to speed with the language and its core concepts in a short amount of time. It covers everything from variables and data types to more advanced topics like object-oriented programming and data structures.

What sets this book apart is its speed. Lospinoso doesn't waste time with lengthy explanations or unnecessary details. Instead, he provides concise and clear explanations, along with practical examples and exercises to help you learn by doing.

If you're looking to pick up C++ in a hurry, "C++ Crash Course" is the ideal resource. It covers all the essentials and gets you writing code as quickly as possible, making it perfect for anyone who wants to become proficient in C++ in a short amount of time. Whether you're a student, a self-learner, or a professional programmer, this book offers a streamlined and effective way to master C++ and start building your own applications and projects.

[Anton Simakov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very rare text that introduces the basics modern C++ for those who already know how to code. Clear and concise explanations, comprehensive list of topics, small self-sufficient code examples. I especially liked the emphasis on the unit testing. Great book overall. The one that finally replaces the old and already dated classic book Accelerated C++ by Koenig & Moo as a textbook I would recommend to any programmer who wants to start learning C++. And Lospinoso's book is not just much more up to date, it is also broader.

[David Sadler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a fair amount of experience working with C++ but there were many holes in my understanding in terms of the standard library and many language features. Now that I have finished this, it will always be close by as a great reference for all my C++ development. It covers foundational things in just enough detail to be useful but not too much so you get lost. The writing style is great and is full of informative code snippets that will be invaluable when I inevitably need to implement something similar. Love this book!

[Adam Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to pick up if you had some experience in C++ but not used it for a decade or two. The chapter on testing alone was worth the price of the book to me. It has great exercises and suggested readings at the end of the chapters. If you work along, and do the exercises you'll be up to speed in, well...not no time. It takes a good while to work through the book. But when you finish you'll know some stuff about C++ and you might get some good ideas for future reading.

[Raymond Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference for C++ programming. It is a bit dry because of the content, but the author has a good personable style that partially makes up for it. It is worth a read if either you want to learn C++ or if you want to know a little bit more about the under the hood details about the main python implementation. The book will probably need a major update if the C++ safe extensions work happens.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Admittedly, there was a little starch

This book came as a shock to me.

I have read many No Starch Press books.
This is the first one that disappointed me.

I felt that it just didn't properly teach C++. I should know, as I already know how to program it.

I was pretty shocked.

I will read another C++ book soon, and see how it compares.

2.8/5

[Bernhard Damberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to catch up with modern C++. My last experience with C++ was in the late 90s. A lot has changed since then (for the better I might add). After reading this book I feel confident to pick up the old hatchet again. Love "auto". Highly recommend!

[Solomon Xie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect book for C++ beginners who has experiences with other languages and want to quickly understand this language. It takes me half an hour to go though all the points I want to know C++ before I actually lead

[Omar Darwish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, and full of comprehensive examples. A pleasure to read!

[Xuankang Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relearn to pick up C++ since C++11. Very dense information. But it's weird that header files are not introduced at all (or did I miss that?)

[Shushi · Rating 4 out of 5]

很详尽、结合丰富的范例能更好的加深理解，总体感觉优于《A Tour of C++ 2nd》；最后几章加入过多boost的内容感觉不是太有必要。

[Gavin Xu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! It doesn't go into too much depth, but enough for readers to dig more themselves.
It's comprehensive, with both std and boost lib introduced/used.

[Duip]

Confusing, perplexing. In this book, fast-pace equates to deficient information.